FMP 2019-28

Figure. Location of the Forest District complexes against the administrative division of Poland 

Division into Forest Ranges 

The Rogów Forest District is assigned the code number 06 and is divided into four forest ranges. The largest forest range is Głuchów (1,130.96 ha), while the smallest is Strzelna (742.43 ha). The division into forest ranges, together with the compartment numbers falling within their boundaries, is presented in the table below. 

Nature and Forest Regional Classification 

The location of the Rogów Forest District along the boundaries of natural and forest regions has led to changes in how it is assigned to these regional units. Until recently, the entire area of the forest district was classified as Natural and Forest Region VI (Małopolska), within the Łódź–Opoczno District and the Sieradz–Łódź Mesoregion [Trampler et al., 1990]. 

The current regional classification [Zielony and Kliczkowska, 2010] places the forest district within two natural and forest regions: Region IV (Mazovia–Podlasie), in the Kutno–Błonie Plain Mesoregion, and Region VI (Małopolska), in the Sieradz–Łódź Mesoregion. 

Region IV includes the Lipce, Głuchów and Gutkowice forest complexes, as well as smaller forest complexes in their vicinity. The remaining forest complexes are located in Region VI. 

The Rogów Forest District lies within the natural range of all the major forest-forming tree species: Scots pine, Norway spruce, pedunculate and sessile oak, European beech and silver fir (at the boundary of its continuous distribution range). 

Physical and Geographical Location 

The Rogów Forest District is situated in the western part of the Rawa Upland, which, together with the Piotrków Upland, is bounded by the Warsaw Basin to the northeast and the Sieradz Basin to the southwest. This area is also sometimes classified as the marginal zone of the Łódź Upland, which descends in steps towards the Warsaw Basin. 

According to Kondracki’s physical and geographical regionalization of Poland, the Rogów Forest District belongs to the Rawa Upland Mesoregion (318.83), within the South Mazovian Hills Macroregion (318.8). 

Landforms and Relief 

The main factor shaping the terrain of the Rogów Forest District was glacial activity associated with the Warta Stadial of the Central Polish Glaciation. Extensive areas are occupied by plains formed from glacial till, often modified by periglacial processes, together with areas of meltwater deposition. 

The glacial deposits vary in age, and tills originating from earlier glacial stadials can also be found. The hilly relief of some forest complexes is likewise associated with glacial activity and the melting of sand and gravel deposits accumulated within the ice. The Głuchów forest complex is situated on kames, while the small Gutkowice complex lies on an esker. 

In the Zimna Woda, Wilczy Dół and Doliska forest complexes, and partly in Zacywilki and Jasień, the till layers are overlain by a continuous layer of aeolian deposits consisting of silt and sandy silt. These surface deposits range in thickness from 0.2 to 1.2 m (locally up to 1.5 m). 

In some erosional depressions, the till layers are covered by sandy and sand-and-gravel deposits laid down by flowing water. Small sections of terraces in old, now-dry valleys contain buried Eemian organic deposits beneath the mineral sediments. 

The relatively uniform, gently undulating landscape of the Rogów Forest District is diversified by former river valleys in the Popień, Rogów and Głuchów forest complexes, as well as by erosional depressions in Głuchów, Lipce and Zacywilki. The Rogów and Głuchów forest complexes are considered the most varied in terms of land relief. 

Water Conditions 

The Rogów Forest District and the surrounding area are bounded to the west by the valley of the Mroga River and its small tributaries, whose valley floors lie at elevations of 160–164 m above sea level. 

To the south, the area is bounded by the valley of the Rawka River and its tributaries, with valley floors at approximately 170 m above sea level. To the east lies the valley of the Łupia River, which continues downstream as the Skierniewka, at an elevation of approximately 160 m above sea level. 

These rivers drain water from the area in different directions, but all belong to the Vistula River basin. Dry, channel-shaped valleys within the forest district carry rainwater towards the river valleys. The low permeability of glacial tills causes rainwater to stagnate, particularly following intense or prolonged rainfall. 

Soil Conditions 

Soil and forest-site surveys were carried out between 1986 and 1989 under the supervision of Professor R. Zaręba, as part of the preparatory work for the Forest Management Plan for the Rogów Forest District for 1989–1998. 

The results are available primarily in the Soil and Forest-Site Survey Report for the Rogów Forest District (1989), and partly in the publication Natural Conditions of the SGGW Experimental Forests in Rogów [Zielony (ed.), 1993]. 

During the forest inventory work undertaken for the Rogów Forest District management plans in 1998 and 2008, only the current condition of forest sites was reviewed. Distorted and degraded sites were identified by assessing the compatibility of tree species composition with site conditions, taking into account stand structure (vertical stratification and the presence of undergrowth and regeneration) and the dominant plant species in the forest floor vegetation. 

The soils in the Rogów Forest District developed from parent materials of varying ages and particle sizes. Glacial tills from the Warta Glaciation and earlier glacial periods predominate. These are overlain by coarse gravel deposits and sandy fluvioglacial sediments transported over relatively short distances by water. They are usually covered by a shallow layer of aeolian silt and sandy silt. 

Most of the forest district, with the exception of the Gutkowice and Prusy forest complexes, is characterized by mesotrophic and eutrophic grey-brown podzolic soils and brown soils, with well-developed organic surface horizons of moder and mull types. 

Relatively small areas of nutrient-poor sandy soils, corresponding to dry and fresh coniferous forest sites (particularly in the Gutkowice forest complex), are comparable in extent to areas of swampy and waterlogged soils associated with moist broadleaved forests, moist mixed forests and ash-alder swamp forests. 

Grey-brown podzolic and brown soils together account for more than 60% of the area. Podzolic rusty soils also constitute a significant proportion, exceeding 26%. 

Since soil classification systems have changed in the meantime, the soil and forest-site survey report should be updated to bring it into line with the currently applicable classification. 

Climatic Conditions 

The climatic conditions prevailing in the Rogów Forest District can be considered relatively favourable for the healthy growth and development of native tree species. The main adverse factor affecting woody plants, particularly at a young age, is the occurrence of frost during the growing season. 

• Long-term mean annual air temperature: 7.2°C 

• Long-term mean annual precipitation: 595 mm 

The thermal growing season in Rogów begins, on average, around 2 April and ends around 2 November. The end of this period is relatively stable, whereas the beginning may differ from the average by as much as 15 days. 

Snow cover usually appears around 9 December and disappears around 25 March. 

Table. Average monthly number of days with frost during the growing season (1950–1973) 

The frequency and intensity of frosts are greatest in April (down to -11°C) and October (down to -12°C). However, May frosts appear to pose a greater threat to vegetation, as although they are less frequent and less severe, they affect plants at a more advanced stage of development. 

It should be noted that frost periods within forest stands are significantly shorter than in open areas, while the growing (thermal) season itself is only slightly shorter within the interior of the forest. 

Characteristics of Forest Site Types 

The structure of forest site types in the Rogów Forest District is clearly dominated by fresh mixed forest sites and fresh forest sites, which together account for more than 80% of the forested area of the district. In terms of site fertility, coniferous forest sites occupy 4.13%, mixed coniferous forest sites 6.19%, mixed forest sites 50.67%, forest sites 37.16%, and alder and ash-alder swamp forest sites 1.84% of the Forest District’s forest area. 

From the moisture perspective, fresh sites account for 95.11%, moist sites for 3.05%, and swamp sites for 1.84% of the Forest District’s forest area. 

A comparison of the current proportions of individual forest site types with data from the previous management planning period indicates relatively minor changes, generally affecting less than 2% within a given forest site type. 

Table. Comparison of the proportional area share of forest site types with data from the previous forest management plan revision. 

 Abbreviations: 

Bs – Dry Coniferous Forest 

Bśw – Fresh Coniferous Forest 

BMśw – Fresh Mixed Coniferous Forest 

LMśw – Fresh Mixed Broadleaved Forest 

LMw – Moist Mixed Broadleaved Forest 

Lśw – Fresh Broadleaved Forest 

Lw – Moist Broadleaved Forest 

Ol – Alder Swamp Forest 

OlJ – Ash-Alder Swamp Forest 

MAPS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: 

Jasień MGP_drzew

Jasień MGP_siedl

Strzelna MGP_drzew

Strzelna MGP_siedl

Głuchów MGP_drzew

Głuchów MGP_siedl

Lipce MGP_drzew

Lipce MGP_siedl

More detailed information is available upon request.